And nor was it.
When Grandpa came home from the mechanic and heard what was planned, he shook his head.
“Have you lost your mind?” he asked Grandma. “You don’t let a small girl travel alone from Stockholm all the way to Northbrook!”
Grandma hesitated for a second.
“What could happen, really?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“Quite a lot,” said Grandpa. “Practically anything! Do you not read the newspaper any more?”
“No,” said Grandma. “Then one wouldn’t dare do anything!”
She took a step closer and lowered her voice so that Dani couldn’t hear.
But Dani has fantastic hearing!
“I can’t bear to see Dani all alone for the whole break,” she heard Grandma explain. “And Sven got to go skiing with a friend. Do you think that’s fair?”
It was just the right question. It went straight to Grandpa’s heart.
Grandpa liked everything to be fair. His grandchildren should have everything exactly the same. They should have the same number of presents, for example, and if Sven went away on a trip then Dani should also be allowed to.
He thought for a moment.
“Gianni will have to decide,” he said.
Grandma took the phone again and called Dani’s father’s number. Then she put it on speakerphone so Grandpa could hear as well.
Dani also, from where she was eavesdropping.
“You’ve rung Gianni but I can’t answer at the moment. Please leave a message after the tone and I’ll call you back.”
Of course, Dad was on the plane, where you can’t talk on your phone.
“Oh well,” said Grandpa, giving up. “We’ll say she can go then. It’s sure to be all right.”
He went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
“Thank you!” she puffed, and she sank to the floor and hugged Grandma’s leg. “Oh Grandma, you make everything all right.”
“Go and pack now, darling!” she said. “And put on something nice. Sonja said there would be a party!”
Then she went to the computer to buy tickets online.